HSE must ‘build culture’ of delivering within budget- new DG

The HSE must “build a culture of delivering within the budget
allocated to us by the state,” the new HSE Director General Mr Paul Reid told
the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health today.

Mr Reid said the Executive needs “to achieve a financial
breakeven while prioritising the safety of our service”.

Mr Reid added that he would be meeting members of senior
management in the coming week to review plans in this area.

“Notwithstanding these strengthened controls, it is a fact
the health service is continuously dealing with increased demands,” said Mr
Reid.

“Therefore this process is intended to ensure that we commit
the resources where required, within the available resources.”

Mr Reid added that it was “a very challenging process”.

Elsewhere in his opening statement to the committee, Mr Reid
said that “waiting times for care remain too long”.

“There is progress in relation to reducing numbers waiting
for access to surgery with figures published for April 2019 showing the number
of patients waiting for inpatient/daycase procedures at 70,295 which represents
a decrease of over 9,000 patients when compared to April 2018.

“The investment by Government is welcomed in this area and
supported by a collaboration between HSE, DOH and NTPF.”